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As the buzz about an inexpensive iPhone model bound for a 2013 release continues to gain momentum, DigiTimes is saying an entry-level iPhone’s chassis could be sourced from an unnamed U.S. electronic manufacturing provider. The casing is said to be made of plastic instead of the current aluminum-and-glass theme which is seen on the iPhone 5.

The publication continues by claiming that separate rumors point to a new design in which the internal metal sub-structure is visible through a “special design” inferring a “see-through” look for the device. Traditionally Apple has used Corning’s Gorilla Glass as a backing to the iPhone 4 and 4S, with the substrate being layered with opaque paint. It still remains unclear whether the supposed design will be adopted but a “see-through” casing seems quite unlikely considering Apple went to fight light leakage that negatively affected the iPhone 4’s camera sensor in the past.

The sources are saying that components required for the rumored handset are currently undergoing a validation process ahead of an expected launch date in the second half of 2013. The reports overall elaborate on several rumors that were proposed late last week about an inexpensive handset coming to Apple’s lineup sometime this year. There was another story about Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller saying his company isn’t in the business of making cheap, low-cost products but at least in the case of Reuters, the said story was withdrawn, leaving the status up in the air.

Time will certainly tell what is true and what isn’t though so we’ll just have to wait patiently.